MEET OUR 2022 CORPORATE COUNSEL HONOREES.

• Author: Malan, Mekenna
• Position: AWARDS

As in-house counsel, attorneys have the opportunity to become fully integrated with their companies--developing short-term goals and long-term strategies. Each year, we celebrate those who guide our companies to a continued standard of excellence. Meet this year's 2022 Corporate Counsel honorees.

J. GREGORY DYER

CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER | MY529

in/IN GREG DYER-B2264AA

What do you enjoy most about in-house work? I love the ability to really understand our organization and how it works, and to associate with our management team and staff. I also love the ability to help shape our mission and strategy and see our organization achieve that strategic vision.

What advice do you have for companies seeking in-house counsel? Look for attorneys who are intellectually curious (even if their background is in a different industry) and are willing to buy into your organization, vision, and purpose.

KIRK GRIMSHAW

VP, LEGAL | EXTRA SPACE STORAGE

/IN/KIRK-GRIMSHAW-86448121

What does success look like to you? For me, success is much more than dollars and cents. We all want to make lots of money. We all want to get the next promotion. But for me, true success doesn't come from one person's rise to the top. In a company, it comes as people come together for a common goal. Notice I did not say success only comes as people come together and reach a common goal. Sometimes, goals are not fully achieved. And yet that does not necessarily mean the group was not successful ... When diverse individuals can put aside their differences, strengthen each other, work together, and find common ground, we know we have succeeded.

MATTHEW WYNN HEMMERT

GENERAL COUNSEL | NETDOCUMENTS SOFTWARE, INC.

IN MATTHEW-W-HEMMERT-CIPP US-2A36794

What challenges have you overcome to get here today? I suffered a traumatic brain injury as a freshman at Brigham Young University. I spent months in occupational therapy and years learning how to learn again. But I found patience, empathy, sympathy, and other character traits during that process that have been essential to my career.

What advice do you have for companies seeking in-house counsel? If it's a company looking for its first in-house legal role, don't just base it on a cost-savings analysis against outside counsel spend. Take the time to ensure you're scoping that first hire in a way that's a truly integrated partner with fantastic communication and partnering skills--not just a gun-for-hire.

JOHN K. HULBERT

CORPORATE COUNSEL | IFIT INC.

in/IN JOHN-HULBERT B54B44A

What is the most interesting project you've worked on as counsel? The most interesting project that I have worked on as in-house counsel was iFIT's run at an IPO last year. Octane Fitness, LLC v. ICON Health & Fitness, Inc., 572 US 545 (2014) is pretty high up there, too.

What does success look like to you? We all have ups and downs--success to me is learning to endure the lows and relish the highs!

AMBER LEAVITT

SENIOR DIRECTOR & ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL,

HEAD OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | EBAY INC.

in/IN/AMBER-LEAVITT-B5880236/

What advice do you have for companies seeking in-house counsel? Don't get hung up on finding an attorney from a "top-tier" law...